Friday, October 31, 2014

1) Their Dia de los Muertos masks went home today. Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday that takes place over the two days following Halloween, is a special day of remembrance of loved ones who have deceased ("los muertos"). They were made using a purchased papier mache masks from Michaels, primed and painted with acrylic paints, then finished with the acrylic sealer, Modge Podge. They turned out a lot better than I expected; the students did a great job! A hole puncher can be used to make holes for an elastic band so it can be wearable (but don't wear it too long as it is a painted mask), or it can be displayed, hung, etc. as a form of presentation.
To complete this project, please talk with your child and think about how your family remembers or honors its loved ones who have passed away. Thank you.

2) Walk-A-Thon donations are due, so please send them in!

3) If your child was recommended for the S.I. after school class, this coming Monday is the first day of S.I.

4) Please keep your eyes out for an email regarding Parent-Teacher Conferences in mid-November. First come, first serve.

5) We did not have our Social Studies Weekly quiz today. We will review their work on Monday and then have the quiz. It will be "open newspaper" so they can find the answer. Here are some of the questions which will appear on their Monday quiz:

a) True or False? Because of the plentiful rainfall in the southeastern part of our state, most of our food is grown there.

b) The tallest mountain in California is _________________.

c) This region in California receives less than 5 inches of rain a year and has extreme temperatures:
_______________.

d) How does the layer of the Earth, which contains spores and shells, give us clues about our planet many years ago? Provide an example.

Yesterday's Project Cornerstone presentation had a follow-up, two-page packet. The last page needs to be completed and returned tomorrow. Thank you to Ms. Leon and Ms. Conlon for their presentation and goodies!

UPDATE: We will be walking with our Little Buddies at 9 am. If you would like to take photos, please arrive around 8:50 a.m.

We're going to have a small Halloween Party AFTER LUNCH, but only snacks and no large servings. If you would like to send something with your child to share with the 28 other students in class, please make sure it isn't home cooked and doesn't contain nuts (as we have a few students with allergies). Thank you.

Students may bring a change of clothes with them tomorrow so they can change out of their costume.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: It's So Wonderful Here4. Wordly Wise 8e- Wordly Wise L8 Test on FRIDAY

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Today's Project Cornerstone presentation has a follow-up, two-page packet. The last page needs to be completed and returned tomorrow. Thank you to Ms. Leon and Ms. Conlon for their presentation and goodies!

We're going to have a small Halloween Party AFTER LUNCH, but only snacks and no large servings. If you would like to send something with your child to share with the 28 other students in class, please make sure it isn't home cooked and doesn't contain nuts (as we have a few students with allergies). Thank you.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: A Helping Hand4. Wordly Wise 8e due Friday- Wordly Wise L8 Test on FRIDAY

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tomorrow, we will have a Project Cornerstone ABC (Asset Building) presentation.

We're going to have a small Halloween Party AFTER LUNCH, but only snacks and no large servings. If you would like to send something with your child to share with the 28 other students in class, please make sure it isn't home cooked and doesn't contain nuts (as we have a few students with allergies). Thank you.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: none4. Wordly Wise 8c-d- Wordly Wise L8 Test on FRIDAY

Today we had a Taste Tasting as part of the Agriculture in the Classroom program. We tried three organic apple varieties: Braeburn (Lakeside, CA), Granny Smith (Watsonville, CA), and Fuji (San Benito County, CA). Students completed a brief student journal after tasting a slice of each of the apples.

Also, I showed them, using an apple, how much of the earth is available arable land, or land that is suitable for farming. (Answer: about 1/32nd) For a Flash video to understand this (I didn't show it to the class), click here: http://www.farmland.org/Flash/appleEarth.html

Thank you to the parents who volunteered for the Walk-A-Thon today. Unfortunately, some students did not return their permission slips but they were given an alternate PE activity to choose.

We're going to have a small Halloween Party AFTER LUNCH, but only snacks and no large servings. If you would like to send something with your child to share with the 28 other students in class, please make sure it isn't home cooked and doesn't contain nuts (as we have a few students with allergies). Thank you.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: none4. Wordly Wise 8a-b- Wordly Wise L8 Test on FRIDAY

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Today we tried the Harvest of the Month tasting of Fancy Zucchini from Watsonville's Lakeside Organic Farms (http://www.lakesideorganic.com). I was surprised by how many loved the zucchini and how few really didn't like it. On the back side of the their taste testing form is a recipe for Zucchini with Corn and Cilantro. Here it is in case your child forgot to bring the form home:

Thank you to those who wore pink today! It was good to see Ruskin supporting a worthy cause!

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms were in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

We will be participating in California Agriculture activities from now until May. Our first Taste Test will take place next Monday: APPLES!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: His Best Time4. Wordly Wise 7e- Wordly Wise L7 Test on FRIDAY

5. Math [We are skipping Topic 5]- TEXTBOOK pages 140-143 ODDS- WORKBOOK pages NONE6. Scholastic News - Due Friday will be Page 8. We did the Sticky Situation in class; they will need to complete the Debate for tomorrow.7. Science pgs. NONE8. History California Indian Projects due November 3, 2014. See info sheet for details.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Thursday: We will have a Harvest of the Month tasting of Fancy Zucchini from Watsonville's Lakeside Organic Farms (http://www.lakesideorganic.com). NOTE: If your child is allergic to zucchini please let me know ASAP. (This is separate from the Taste Testing grant which will hopefully commence early next week, as I am missing about 50% of the class's pink consent forms.)

Tomorrow's Spirit Day is "Think Pink" in support of "Stand Up To Cancer" (http://www.standup2cancer.org). The day is to increase the general awareness of cancer, support those who are fighting it or survived it, and honor those who have lost their lives to cancer. Students are encouraged to wear pink to school on Thursday.

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms were in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

We will be participating in California Agriculture activities from now until May. Our first Taste Test will take place next Monday: APPLES!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: Mean Rocky4. Wordly Wise 7e- Wordly Wise L7 Test on FRIDAY

5. Math [We are skipping Topic 5]- TEXTBOOK pages NONE- WORKBOOK pages 77-78 ALL6. Scholastic News - Due Friday will be Page 8. We will do the Sticky Situation and Debate in class tomorrow.7. Science pgs. NONE8. History California Indian Projects due November 3, 2014. See info sheet for details.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tomorrow (IF they arrive today): We will have a Harvest of the Month tasting of Fancy Zucchini from Watsonville's Lakeside Organic Farms (http://www.lakesideorganic.com). NOTE: If your child is allergic to zucchini please let me know ASAP. (This is separate from the Taste Testing grant which will hopefully commence early next week, as I am missing about 50% of the class's pink consent forms.)

This Thursday's Spirit Day is "Think Pink" in support of "Stand Up To Cancer" (http://www.standup2cancer.org). The day is to increase the general awareness of cancer, support those who are fighting it or survived it, and honor those who have lost their lives to cancer. Students are encouraged to wear pink to school on Thursday.

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms were in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

We will be participating in California Agriculture activities from now until May. Please see the letter that went home today about our first Taste Test: APPLES!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: Uneasy Homecoming4. Wordly Wise 7c-d- Wordly Wise L7 Test on FRIDAY

5. Math [We are skipping Topic 5]- TEXTBOOK pages 138-139 #7-36 ODDS- WORKBOOK pages NONE- 3 Enrichment sheets which were started in class today- Topic 4 Test TOMORROW6. Scholastic News - NO HW today but October 20 issue will be done mostly in class this week. Due Friday will be Page 8, Sticky Situation, and Debate.7. Science pgs. NONE8. History California Indian Projects due November 3, 2014. See info sheet for details.

Monday, October 20, 2014

This Thursday's Spirit Day is "Think Pink" in support of "Stand Up To Cancer" (http://www.standup2cancer.org). The day is to increase the general awareness of cancer, support those who are fighting it or survived it, and honor those who have lost their lives to cancer. Students are encouraged to wear pink to school on Thursday.

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms were in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

We will be participating in California Agriculture activities from now until May. Please see the letter that went home today about our first Taste Test: APPLES!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension: The Old House4. Wordly Wise 7a-b- Wordly Wise L7 Test on FRIDAY

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Tomorrow is the Great California Shake Out (http://www.shakeout.org/california/). It will be observed district-wide. Ruskin will have theirs at 9:05 a.m.

LAST UPDATE RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do ALL of the multiplication lessons. They may even try the easier division lessons. If they are having difficulty, they should watch the videos and consider

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms were in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # 31/32 4. Wordly Wise 6e (due Friday)- Wordly Wise L6 Test on FRIDAY

Saturday, October 11, 2014

TenMarks:- Looks like more students need to be taking TenMarks (18 students have not worked on it). I know who you are! ;)- The assignment problems are being answered correctly at a very good percentage.- Two students this week scored less than 75% and did not use the videos for assistance. Please make sure to WATCH THE VIDEOS when you are struggling! They help!

Weekly TenMarks Report for Mr. Amutan's Class

Total students in Mr. Amutan's Class: 34

Students who worked on TenMarks: 15

Assignments

Total assignment problems attempted: 1080

Assignment problems answered correctly: 969

--------------------------

Sumdog:

- GREAT JOB TO MR. AMUTAN'S STUDENTS! We placed 13th in the National Sumdog contest that ended on Friday, 10/9! You all really poured in a lot of effort! Kudos!

If you know of anyone interested in applying to Marquette University (my alm mater!) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I can endorse their application which covers the application fee. LMK as it is a very easy process.

UPDATE #2 RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do all of the multiplication lessons. They may even try the easier division lessons. Please try not to do the more challenging division lessons.

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms are in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # 13/14 4. Wordly Wise 5e (due Friday)- Wordly Wise L5 Test on FRIDAY

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Tomorrow is WALK 'N ROLL day! Please walk to school and experience the beauty that is enjoying the exercise and traffic-free morning while chatting with your child! MEDIA WILL BE PRESENT as the State Superintendent of Education, Tom Torlakson (a former Bay Area teacher), will be participating with Ruskin students. We will have Flagpole in the morning.

UPDATE #2 RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do all of the multiplication lessons. They may even try the easier division lessons. Please try not to do the more challenging division lessons.

Ruskin's Walk-A-Thon has been moved to Oct. 27. Sponsor forms are in the Wednesday Folders. Please ask others to help Ruskin!

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # 9/10 4. Wordly Wise 5c-d- Wordly Wise L5 Test on FRIDAY

UPDATE #3: Please check your email for the AR and STAR Reading Assessments. I forwarded them to you on Saturday; the reports were in a PDF format.

All Scholastic Book Orders have been processed. It is not too late to order, but there may be a few days delay. Please do so online.

We started Gordon Korman's Titanic: Book 1 today as well as our readers' story on the Titanic.

UPDATE #2 RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do all of the multiplication lessons. They may even try the easier division lessons. Please try not to do the more challenging division lessons.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # 5/64. Wordly Wise 5a-b- Wordly Wise L5 Test on FRIDAY

UPDATE #2: Due to district server issues, AR and STAR Reading Assessments could not be printed, and remaining students could not take their tests and/or quizzes. I will let you know when the reports are going home.

T-Shirt Order forms were sent out yesterday.

BOOK ORDERS due TOMORROW. Orders will be placed Saturday morning.

UPDATE RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do all of the multiplication lessons. Please try not to do the division lessons.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # NONE 4. Wordly Wise 4e- Wordly Wise L4 Test TOMORROW

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

UPDATE: AR and STAR Reading Assessments are NOT in the Wednesday Folder due to remaining students who have not taken their tests and/or quizzes. They will do go out tomorrow.

T-Shirt Order forms have been sent out.

New Monthly Reading Logs are in the Wednesday Folder

UPDATE RE: NEW TenMarks ASSIGNMENTS - Students may do all of the multiplication lessons. Please try not to do the division lessons.

1. RuskinFIT (Physical Exercise) - 60 minutes2. Reading Is Cool - 30 minutesReading Goal of the Month: Most Pages ReadKeep track of the books you read daily by writing them down on the Reading Log, get your parent or guardian to initial, total your pages read, and turn it in November 3 ...Receive a Prize!Remember: Read your Accelerated Reader Book (selected with your ZPD in mind) and take the Quiz in class.3. Reading Comprehension # 39-40 4. Wordly Wise 4e (Due Friday)